AsiaC

ongress Events Co., Ltd.

Intern
ational Rice Congress 2010

PRESS RELEASE Contacts: My Hanh Phan

PREPARED BY VERO PUBLIC RELATIONS Vero Public Relations
JULY 2009 (t) +84908588655
(e) myhanh@veropr.com

FROM PADDY TO PLATE, RICE IS THE MOST COMPLEX COMMODITY

As the world struggles to feed itself, leading Asian rice producer, Vietnam, will
host the largest congress of world’s rice experts in 2010

Apart from oil, rice is the world’s most complex commodity, influencing global
politics, national governments, large tracts of land, a large proportion of the
population, the climate and the environment.

Coinciding with IRRI’s golden anniversary (50 years), the 3rd International Rice
Congress (IRC 2010) takes place between November 8 and 12 next year in
Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi.

“That simple bowl or serving of rice that billions of us across the globe
consume each day is the result of one of the world’s most complex issues,
involving everything from the latest science to the humble buffalo,” said Dr. To
Phuc Tuong, senior scientist at the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI). .

Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)

Vietnam and organized by IRRI and AsiaCongress Events Co., Ltd., one of
the region’s leading meetings industry professionals, IRC 2010 is expected to
repeat the success of the previous two congresses of its kind, with thousands
of delegates registered from every continent.

“The world food shortage, which threatens more than 100 million people,
coupled with the international economic crisis, places an enormous pressure
on rice producing countries and the entire chain from paddy to plate for this
most complex of commodities,” Dr. Tuong said.

He added that technology was one of the most important focuses for the
International Rice Congress 2010, because without new varieties and
innovative ways of cultivating rice and thereby ensuring food security it would
be impossible to cope with the projected growth in demand for rice in the
immediate future.

“Arguably the strongest defence against future shortages is for rice producers
to enhance their technological platforms and fully exploit the very compelling
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) AsiaCongress Events Co., Ltd.

Mailing Address 10 Soi Lasalle 56, Sukhumvit Rd.,Bangna,

DAPO Box 7777 Bangkok 10260, Thailand
Metro Manila 1301 P : + 66 2748 7881
Phillippines F : + 66 2748 7880
advances in the spheres of biology, genetics and IT. These will be fully
addressed during IRC 2010.

“By bringing together the most advanced thinking in the future of the rice
industry, IRC 2010 is geared towards finding sustainable solutions to the
developing world food crisis. Shared knowledge and the bridging of political
divides will be the ultimate weapons against the looming shortages.

“IRRI has calculated the world will need to produce an additional 50 million
tonnes of rice by 2015 to cope with the surging demand,” he said.

IRC 2010 will also look at one of the key trends in world rice and other food
production, the “off-shoring” of farm production by several influential countries,
including China, South Korea and Japan. These programmes involve the
contracting of farmland as far away as Africa and South America. With this
comes “enormous political and socio-economic challenges”, according to Dr
Tuong.

In parallel with the scientific conference, a comprehensive exhibition that will

showcase the latest technologies, genetic and biological advances and
equipment dedicated to the production of rice is organized. Multinational
companies including equipment manufacturers, seed producers, financial
institutions and non-governmental agencies will be represented.

Please see: www.irri.org

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NOTE TO EDITORS

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s leading rice
research and training centre. Based in the Philippines, with offices in 13 other
countries, IRRI is an autonomous, non-profit institution focused on improving the
well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers,
particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one
of 15 centres funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies
(www.cgiar.org).

Asia Congress Events Co., Ltd. is a Professional Conference and Exhibition

Organiser (PCO/PEO) and works on behalf of associations, government
organisations, industrial sectors and individual companies throughout Asia. Its
portfolio focuses on sectors that include: Energy, Infrastructure, Water, Cleaning and
Environment. AsiaCongress operates in Thailand, as well as Malaysia, Singapore,
Brunei, India, Vietnam, The Philippines and China.

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) AsiaCongress Events Co., Ltd.

Mailing Address 10 Soi Lasalle 56, Sukhumvit Rd.,Bangna,

DAPO Box 7777 Bangkok 10260, Thailand
Metro Manila 1301 P : + 66 2748 7881
Phillippines F : + 66 2748 7880